The Ain-i-Akbari was written by the court historian Abul Fazal Allami in 1589.
It was completed in 1598
Abu'l Fazal had revised the documents five times indicated a high degree of caution on the part of Abul'Fazal. All the oral testimonies were crissed Crossed before assigning them as facts in the Book.All tge numerical figures were reproduced in words to remove the transcriptional errors.
But the scholars who have studied the Ain carefully suggested that It was not free from errors.
There were numerous errors in totalling.These were the simple slips of Arithmetic written by the agents of Abul Fazal.
Another limitation is that the information was not collected uniformly throughout the provinces.The reports of the castes of Zamindars were available for the Agra but what about Bengal and Orissa.

Limitations of Ain-i-Akbari

The Ain-i-Akbari is a detailed administrative record of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar's reign. Despite its significance as a historical document, it has certain limitations that need to be acknowledged when studying this text.

Lack of External Perspectives:
The Ain-i-Akbari primarily provides an internal perspective of the Mughal Empire, focusing on its administrative, economic, and social aspects. It lacks the inclusion of external viewpoints, such as those of neighboring kingdoms or foreign powers. This limitation restricts a comprehensive understanding of the political dynamics and the Empire's relations with other regions.

Biased Perspective:
As a court document, the Ain-i-Akbari was written with the intention to glorify Emperor Akbar and legitimize his rule. This inherent bias can be observed in the exaggerated accounts of his achievements and benevolence. Consequently, it may not provide an entirely objective account of events or accurately reflect the diverse perspectives within the Empire.

Limited Geographical Scope:
While the Ain-i-Akbari covers various aspects of the Mughal Empire, it primarily focuses on the regions directly under Akbar's control. The Empire expanded significantly during his reign, but the Ain-i-Akbari fails to provide extensive information about the newly acquired territories. This limitation restricts our understanding of the Empire's full extent and its governance beyond the central regions.

Administrative Bias:
Although the Ain-i-Akbari is a valuable source for understanding the administrative structure of the Mughal Empire, it primarily emphasizes the Emperor's perspective. It provides detailed accounts of revenue collection, land surveys, and administrative divisions, but it often overlooks the experiences and perspectives of the common people. This limitation can hinder a holistic understanding of the Empire's social and economic dynamics.

Lack of Cultural and Artistic Information:
While the Ain-i-Akbari provides insights into the administrative and economic aspects of the Mughal Empire, it lacks comprehensive information about its cultural and artistic achievements. It does not extensively cover areas such as literature, music, painting, or architecture. This limitation restricts our understanding of the Empire's cultural richness and artistic contributions.

In conclusion, while the Ain-i-Akbari is a valuable historical document, it has several limitations. These include its limited geographical scope, biased perspective, lack of external viewpoints, administrative bias, and limited coverage of cultural and artistic aspects. Recognizing these limitations is crucial for historians and researchers to avoid potential biases and to supplement their understanding of the Mughal Empire with other historical sources.